How to cook a steak

So I have never attempted to cook a steak. It has always been intimidating for some reason. So I decided I was going to buy some steaks and learn how to make them finally. So I googled it. I found several recipes for the cut of steak I had, Tenderloin Steak, and picked the one that looked best. Turned out it was perfect. I made good steaks! Yay!! And it was actually reallllly easy. Now that I know how easy it is, I will be making them more often! Here is how I did it.

How to cook Beef Tenderloin Steak

1) remove the tenderloins from the refrigerator 20 minutes before cooking to bring them to room temperature.

2) Pat the tenderloins dry with paper towels. Sprinkle generously with salt and fresh ground pepper. Massage the seasoning into the meat.

3) Rub oil on the outside of the steaks.

Cooking:

1) Heat the skillet over medium-high heat to scalding, until a drop of water sizzles and dances on the skillet. Put 1 T of oil into the middle of the skillet and swish it around to cover the cooking surface. Heat the oil until it begins to smoke.

2) Place the tenderloins in the middle of the skillet. With your fingers or tongs, move the steaks around in a circular motion to spread the oil. Sear the steaks for 2-3 minutes. Use tons to flip the steaks and sear the other side for 2-3 minutes. This searing causes proteins in the steaks' surface to interact with the sugars, creating a flavorful crust containing hundreds of different-flavored compounds.

3) Lower the heat to medium. Cook for and additional 7-9 minutes total, flipping the steaks occasionally, for medium rare or medium. Cook the steaks to 125 Fahrenheit for rare, 130 for medium rare and 140 for medium. The steaks will continue to heat after you remove them from the skillet.

4) Transfer the steaks to a plate and cover them loosely with aluminum foil. Allow them to rest for 10-15 minutes. This chances their flavor and gives the juices time to distribute evenly through the tenderloins.

5) De-glaze the skillet with 1 T butter and 2 T water. Heat the skillet over medium heat and scrape the bottom of the skillet with your spatula to loosen any charred remnants. Reduce the liquid a little. Drizzle the  liquid over the tenderloins.